Page 146 of Reveal

Joey is harmless. He won’t hurt me.

Don’t be stupid, Vaughn. He has a fucking gun in his hand.

But he won’t.

You can’t make crazy people sane, Vaughn.

But he’s also not the smartest cookie in the jar. Anyone who watches television would know to never let the object of your obsessed affection be alone.

Bad things happen. Strategies are hatched. Escapes are planned.

“I’m not liking this. I need you to come out where I can see you.” There’s an urgency tingeing his voice.

“One more second.”

I’m out of patience with being afraid.

I’ve been the victim too many times in my life.

Not now.

Not ever again.

I scan my own bathroom for anything that can be used as a weapon. Sadly, I can say that didn’t turn out all too well for me earlier today with the lamp on the nightstand. Not many people get a second chance at it.

I laugh out loud at that. I can’t help myself.

“What’s going on in there? You’re laughing.” He pounds on the door, causing it to bow under his force. “Is someone else in there?”

Yep, he’s definitely losing it.

But I feel like I am too.

“No.” And then I moan loader.

Bang. Bang. Bang. “Open the door. I don’t care how sick you are.”

I grab hold of the top of the toilet tank cover and unlock the door seconds before hunching over with my back to Joey.

“Ooohhhhh,” I continue on, each time louder than the last.

He jiggles the door for the first time, probably thinking it has been open the whole time.

“Vaughn, are you okay?” I try not to jerk in repulsion at the feel of his hand on my back. At the sudden compassion in his deranged voice.

And then with a roar and with every ounce of effort I have left in my aching arms, I swing the lid of the toilet tank at Joey’s head.

There’s a huge sickening thud when I connect.

Joey crumples to the ground instantly.

I kick the gun from his hand and run down the hallway just as the police break through the front door.

And then I collapse on the floor.

The adrenaline gone.

The fight all fought out.